What should you know about estrogen and heart palpitations?

Palpitations can feel like pounding, racing, fluttering, or skipped beats. Some people notice them during hormonal transitions, including around menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, when sleep, stress, temperature sensations, and autonomic responses may change. The sensation is not specific to oestrogen. Dehydration, anxiety, low blood sugar, an overactive thyroid, anaemia, medicines, caffeine, and an abnormal rhythm such as atrial fibrillation can also contribute. A clinician may need the timing, pulse pattern, and associated symptoms to identify the cause.

Record when episodes start, how long they feel, what you were doing, and whether your pulse seems regular or irregular. Note caffeine, alcohol, illness, missed meals, poor sleep, and hormone medicines. Drink fluids regularly unless a clinician has restricted them, and avoid changing prescribed hormones on your own. Arrange a review for repeated episodes; an examination, ECG, blood tests, or longer rhythm monitoring may be considered according to your history.

Call emergency services for palpitations with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, new weakness, confusion, or a sustained very fast or irregular heartbeat. Urgent review is also appropriate when episodes are new and prolonged, or occur with known heart disease. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or unsafe.

Ask whether your symptoms could be hormone-related or whether an ECG and blood tests are needed. Discuss thyroid, iron, hydration, blood sugar, medicines, and whether your pattern needs rhythm monitoring.